STUDENTS from Medway will not be disadvantaged by tuition fees, according to Gillingham Labour MP Paul Clark.

Mr Clark said the introduction of fees should not deter students from going on to higher education because of additional concessions made by the Government.

Medway has one of the lowest take-up rates for higher education in the country.

Mr Clark insisted: "As a result of this package, the help available to those from poorer backgrounds has significantly increased and no student will now have to pay fees upfront, which is important for all students and their parents. I understand the concerns over the burden of debt, which were no doubt genuine."

He also denied the fees would hit those universities who took a larger proportion of students from lower income families, as it would be the Government which would meet the costs of university bursaries.